Tuesday special session likely for Legislature

State Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, began a filibuster late Sunday to kill a crucial school finance legislation that she believes will create inequities in public school financing, harshly criticizing the Legislature’s plan to cut $4 billion owed to school districts under current law.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst called her decision to kill the measure “unfortunate” but said he respected her decision to launch the filibuster. He said he did not try to talk her out of it because he “sensed she had made up her mind.”

Davis delivered a letter to the Senate parliamentarian Sunday evening that indicated she planned to speak for an extended period of time, giving notice that she would try to kill the bill. The school finance plan is contained in SB 1811, which must pass before midnight Sunday. The regular session of the Legislature ends Monday.

Dewhurst said the only way to avoid a special session would be a vote Monday by 25 of the 31 members of the Texas Senate to suspend its rules and pass the school finance plan.

Mark Miner, Gov. Rick Perry’s press secretary said the governor would immediately call the Legislature back into special session immediately. “If the fiscal issues don’t get resolved this evening, the Governor is prepared to call a special session beginning on Tuesday,” Miner said.

Davis read letters from her constituents demanding that the Legislature avoid cuts to public education. She said she favored ending tax breaks to corporations, especially the high-cost gas exemption enjoyed by the oil and gas industry.

Perry has already indicated he plans to call the Legislature back into session on July 15 to resolve a dispute over the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. Lawmakers speculate he will add two other issues — sanctuary cities and congressional redistricting — to the agenda in July.

Earlier Sunday, State Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, urged immediate passage of the school finance measure, noting that school districts will face uncertainty if the Legislature does not adopt a plan.